Category: Wokingham and West Berkshire Issues

I am told good progress is being made with the lengthening of platforms at Wokingham. Work should be completed early in 2017. These changes are part of an upgrade investment to increase seat capacity on the Reading to Waterloo line. The aim is to run longer trains in peaks from the summer of next year, offering 30% more travel capacity on the route. Ten stations will have the extended platforms allowing drop off and pick up from all carriages.

I held a review meeting with the Environment Agency today at Westminster. I urged they bring forward schemes with the Council for flood alleviation on the Emm, Loddon and Kennet. There is a backlog to fix from past development and action to be taken to handle faster run off of water from new development. The government has hinted that following the Autumn Statement more money is likely to be available for smaller capital schemes that assist development and improve people’s lives.

Parliament has a comprehensive Education Service which aims to engage young people to understand and get involved in Parliament, politics and democracy. They offer a year round programme of events for schools and teachers which includes visits to Westminster, school-based workshops and teacher training as well education projects and active learning competitions.

In addition to this, they produce a range of digital and printed learning resources on Government, history and citizenship for pupils of all ages.

Learn more about what the Parliament Education Service has to offer at:
http://www.parliament.uk/education/ or contact them at education@parliament.uk

I have received a news release from Wokingham Borough Council in which they warn of fake Blue Badge websites.

WARNING ABOUT FAKE BLUE BADGE WEBSITES

Wokingham Borough Council is warning disabled residents about unscrupulous scammers who charge people for help when applying for a Blue Badge.

A Blue Badge gives free parking to disabled people and can be applied for by filling out a form and paying £10. However, the borough council has received reports about websites charging as much as £49 solely for help with applying for a badge. Plus the information provided by applicants also does not appear to be forwarded to the relevant authorities.

This means a Blue Badge is not issued, and also puts at risk any sensitive information residents have submitted during the fake application.

Anyone requiring further information regarding these scams, or wishing to make a report, can contact Action Fraud by visiting: www.actionfraud.police.uk or by contacting the Citizens Advice Consumer Centre on 03454 040 506 or online at: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue.

Citizens Advice can also provide guidance on ways to seek money back, or where residents stand in terms of consumer law, and the details will then be passed to Trading Standards.

Applications for Blue Badges can be made online at: www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge or by calling the council’s Blue Badge team on (0118) 974 6808/6811.

Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner, executive member for health and wellbeing, said: “These websites are intentionally trying to defraud people by appearing official. I’d like to remind residents to use the official government website, or to contact us, if they need to apply for a Blue Badge and to not be exploited by these scammers.”

I recently visited the Charity Volunteers recruitment fair in Wokingham. I met many good charities, and thanked them all for their work for our local community. It was good to see them recruiting more volunteers, explaining to them the range of roles. Every little helps. Charities need your time, your efforts or your financial support.
It is most rewarding to do things to help any charity raise money for a good cause, or to help deliver the service the charity provides for those in need of help.As MP I am always happy to attend an event for a local cause if it can help and fits in with the Parliamentary diary.

I was told the Council is considering proposing a new major development at Grazeley. This is an internal Council proposal. I understand that an early draft said I supported it. I made clear to the Council I had not offered support, and have been assured they have taken my name off it.

I would be interested in hearing constituents views, when we have the chance to see the proposal if they go ahead with it.

Reading news that the Chancellor is attracted to the idea of encouraging and part financing more road and railway infrastructure, with a range of smaller projects, I have contacted Wokingham Borough Council to alert them to this possibility and to see if they have suitable projects which could be made ready in a reasonable time. I am also taking up with Transport Ministers the continuing issues of the A329M capacity and its links to the M4, and the wider question of how all the extra traffic from the substantial housing developments in our area can be accommodated.

I held a meeting this week with the Secretary of State for Transport to draw his attention to the long going complaints of constituents about the changes made to flightpaths over the constituency in 2014 and the resulting increase in noise. Discussions included an agenda for lowering the noise of flights generally, where he was sympathetic to any measure which can improve the noise position for people on the ground. For example, if more flights are slowed down before arrival in the UK so they can land without joining a stack, noise and disruption will be reduced and fuel saved.

I also stressed the need to review the current concentration of flights under the revised procedures. I will follow up with a written submission.

The Conservative Manifesto promised fairer funding for places like Wokingham where our schools are at the bottom end of the range when it comes to per pupil sums of money to support them . I was one of the MPs who pressed this issue in the Coalition years and was pleased the party adopted it as policy.

This week I attended a meeting with the Education Secretary with some other colleagues. We pressed her to speed up consideration and implementation of a fairer funding formula. As it now looks as if it will not be available before 2018-19, we also pressed her to produce some transitional arrangements to relieve the worst pressures on poorly financed schools. She said she would look into it, and agreed there was an issue to be resolved.

Yesterday I met the CEO of Heathrow to discuss their plans for expansion, and to remind him of unfinished business on curbing aircraft noise over my constituency. I have been promised a further letter on what is being done and can be done to alleviate the current noise levels.